- The US has made the visa bond program permanent for 50 countries, including 12 Asian nations: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
- In the first 10 months of the pilot, fewer than 50 overstays occurred while visa issuances fell 83 percent.
- A Federal Register notice scheduled for August 3 called the pilot program an effective tool, citing 45,488 overstays in FY 2024.
- During the pilot, nearly half of the applicants required to pay bonds decided not to.
- Consular officers decide whether a visa bond will be required – $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 – and denial can be overcome by paying; the bond may be canceled if the visa is denied.
- The State Department framed the bond as ensuring that the visa-holder will maintain nonimmigrant status and depart as required.
- Broader context: 4 million fewer foreign visitors came to the U.S. in 2025 than 2024, the worst single-year tourism decline in two decades excluding the pandemic.
- Overstay figures for listed countries include Tuvalu’s 11.63 percent (five overstays out of 43 expected departures) and Bangladesh’s 5.73 percent (more than 2,200); $10,000 is called “an almost impossible sum” for many people.
The U.S. State Department has made its visa bond program permanent, affecting 50 countries, including 12 in Asia. The program requires applicants for B-1/B-2 visas to pay bonds ranging from $10,000 to $20,000, aimed at ensuring compliance with visa conditions.1111213
The program targets countries identified as failing to meet standards related to overstays and security. In FY 2024, there were 45,488 overstays from these countries, while the pilot program reported fewer than 50 overstays in its first 10 months. Notably, visa issuances dropped by 83 percent compared to the previous year, with nearly half of the 20,000 applicants opting not to pay the bond.23456
The bond is designed to ensure that visa holders do not apply for asylum and leave the U.S. as required. If a visa is denied, the bond is canceled; if approved, it is returnable after the visa expires.
Countries affected include Bangladesh, Nepal, and Mongolia, among others. Bangladesh had a 5.73 percent overstay rate in 2024, while Tuvalu's was 11.63 percent. The bond amounts represent significant financial barriers for many applicants, raising concerns about accessibility to U.S. visas.
The program's effectiveness is still under scrutiny, as the State Department claims it has provided sufficient data to suggest that the visa bond program is an effective tool for enforcing compliance.
“Consular officers can require bonds of $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000, an "almost impossible sum" for many applicants. The Federal Register notice cites 45,488 overstays in FY 2024 versus fewer than 50 during the pilot, while visa issuances fell 83 percent.”
